Pump and the like



F. A. 1. BROWN.

PUMP AND THE L| KEr APPLiCATlON "FILED FEB. 2, 1921.

n 9 m ls Aw dz m .w a P F. A. J. BROWN. PUMP AND THE LIKE- APPLlCATiON HLED FEB. 2, 1921.

Patented Aug. 29, 1922.-

2 SHEETS SHEET 2.

rut/tr AND THE LIKE.

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Specification of Letters Patent. Pgfg-Qnfigqi A g 25);, page;

Application filed February 2, 1921. Serial lilo. 441,825.

To all w/iom it may concern:

Be it known that l, FRANCIS ARTHUR JAMES BROWN, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Clifton, Bristol, England, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Pumps and the like, of which the following is, a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in pumps or the like for raising or forcing fluids, semifluids or other substances, such as liquid cement, gravel, sewage or viscid substances, such as tar, and has forits object to render such apparatus more effective and reliable when in use than with similar apparatus as at present constructed. Animportant feature of the invention consists in an improved arrangement or combination of the suction and delivery valves whereby the same are caused to respond or be operated more quickly during the reciprocating movement of the piston or pistons in the pump cylinder or cylinders.

I will now proceed to describe the invention in connection with or as applied to a 'r'outing machine for cements, mortars and t e like from which its application for treating other substances will be readily under stood.

With grouting machines as already constructed the apparatus usually consists of two chambers or compartments superposed one above the other, the lower chamber being connected to the suction pipe or pipes, whilst the upper chamber is connected to the delivery pipe or pipes. The cylinder or cylinders are each provided with suction and delivery valves, whilst the upper chamber or compartment is in connection with the usual air chamber serving "to maintain a constant flow of the liquid or other material under treatment, said chamber having a tap or valve to regulate the air pressure therein.

With this type of apparatus, difficulty has been experienced when treating cements, mortars or the like owing to the fact that the suction valve, usually of the flap or poppet type becomes choked or otherwise ceases to operate owing to its retention in the open position by material under treatment;

Further this movement of the piston or plunger is very often insufficient to lift the delivery valve off its seating, owing to air pressure above the valve.

According to the present invention these diliiculties are overcome, by an improved arrangement or combination which cons1sts in theprovision of ball valves, the balls of the suction valve being of comparatively heavy material, such as iron or steel, whilst the ball of the delivery valve, which may be of the same dimensions or approximately the same dimensions, as that of the suction valve, is formed of wood or of some light material, or it may be made hollow of steel or other suitablematerial.

The valves are each provided with a cap or the like preferably provided with a tap or valve adapted to be secured in position above the valve seating; T his cap is formed with a spherical recess into which the ball moves when raised, so that on the valve being closed, lateral displacement of the ball is prevented by the periphery on the flanged inner surfaceof the cap; The cap is preferably secured in position by clamps bolted to the top of the apparatus.

The opening of the valve is considerably facilitated whilst when open a clear passage, unimpeded by valve stems, hinges or the like is provided for the passage of'the material, whilst'the liability for the valves to become choked or inoperative is entirely eliminated.

in order that the invention may be readily understood referenc'e'is made to the accompanying drawings in which Fig 1 is a-front view of a'groutingima tion and the right hand portion a central The apparatus shown in the drawings comprises an outer casing a the interiorof which is divided into two chambers or compartments Z) c superposed one above the other. The lower compartment is connected to a suction pipe (not shown) said pipebeing flanged and bolted to the inlet port Z2 whilst the upper chamber is provided with a port 0 serving to enable a delivery pipe (not shown) to be similarly bolted thereto. Located centrally above the upper chamber, is an air chamber d, the interior of which communicates with the upper chamber through one or more ports or apertures 68 located in the top (Z oi. the upper chamber Z). ()n each side of the casing and on the opposits sides of the air chamber d are pump cylinders e 0 each provided with reciprocating pistons or plungers f f pivotally connected l y means of rods 9 g to a i'ulcrumed lever 71 which is pivotally supported inter mediate its ends on a spindle or pivot 7L carried by brackets 62 formed in one with or fixed to the top of the chamber d. The interior of the cylinders are provided with the usual packing i and with a gland or sleeve Z: adjustable in the usual well known manner.

The upper and lower chambers are each divided by a wall a into three divisions, the upper chamber having a central division 0 located at the front with which the outlet or delivery port 0 communicates, whilst on each side are two divisions c 0 respectively, each communicating with the lower end of the cylinders 6 6 The lower chamber is formed with a central division Z2 with which the suction port 6 communicates, said division being located centrally at the rear and with two divisions b b. The divisions in the upper and the lower chambers are displaced relatively to one another, as will be seen clearly from Figs. 3 and i, the division 0 in the upper chamber has a wall at extending partly across its centre and terminating a short distance from the delivery port 0 Similarly the division Z2 in the lower chamber is provided with a wall 0& extending across the division to within a short distance of the suction port 6 The divisions c c in the upper chamber each communicate with the divisions b b respectively of the lower chambers through apertures n n the said apertures being located immediately beneath and preferably corresponding in size to the bore of the cylinders e e. The divisions c and 0* are also each provided with ports communicating with the division 6 in the lower chamber, each of said ports being controlled by a ball valve 0 0 respectively. Each portion of the division 0 in the upper chamber also communicates with the divisions b b of the lower chamber through ports controlled by ball valves 10 3? respectively.

The casing a is provided above each of the suction valves 0, 0 and delivery valves 59 with a closing cap 9 (Fig. 5) formed with a spherical recess 9 into which the ball is able to move when raised oil its seat, said caps being provided with an annular depending lip or flange adapted to prevent lateral displacement of the valves and maintain the same centrally above their seatings. Above each oi the closing caps is a bail 0 supported on pivots s in brackets t secured to the top of the upper chamber. The bail is formed with a screwed recess to receive a bolt a serving to press the cap down into position and retain the same against movement. By this means on loosening the bolt or screw it, the bail may be rotated about its pivot thus permitting the removal of the closing cap g when it is desired to remove or replace the valves.

The ball valves 0 and 0 controlling the suction ports between the upper and lower chambers, are formed of comparatively heavy material such as iron or steel or other suitable metal, whilst the ball valves 19 and p controlling the delivery ports are constructed of wood or other light material. Or as an alternative the delivery valves may be made in the form of hollow metal spheres, the arrangement being such that greater pressure or suction is required for operating the suction valves as compared with the delivery valves, the heavier valves assisting the required quicker response for semi-fluid, in this position.

The lever 7?, connected to each of the piston rods g 9 of the pumps 0 6 is operated by rods or the like 42 connected to opposite ends of the lever 72 the rods being secured to the lever h by bolts 11 whilst the ends of the rods are "formed with a central recess Q12 engaging the forked end of the lever It so that the operating rods may be quickly secured in operating position to form extensions of the ends of the lever It.

The divisions b Z2 and b of the lower chamber and the divisions c c and 0* of the upper chamber are preferably provided with apertures 20 at the sides and ends respectively, which are normally closed by cover plates or the like 10 bolted or otherwise secured to the outer casing.

The chamber (Z is provided with a valve or tap a: serving to enable the air pressure therein to be relieved, when desired. The cap or cover for the valves are also provided with relief cocks or the like 7.

The operation is as follows 2- Before actual operations are commenced, that is before the flow of the material is permitted, the pumps are operated to obtain a sufficient head of pressure within the air chamber (Z. I will assume the piston f in the cylinder 0 to be moved upwardly. Dur- .ing this movement, the material (fluid or semi-fluid) is drawn into the lower chamher through the suction port 5 up past the valve 0 into the division 0 in the upper chamber. On the return or downward stroke of the piston f, the valve 0 is forced down on its seating, and the material in the division 0 is forced down into the division 5 of the lower chamber through the aperture a. The pressure obtained by the successive strokes of the piston causes a practically constant'flow of the material through the division 0 aperture 72 and thence into the division 5 the valve 0 being opened on the suction stroke of the piston f and closed on the return stroke, whilst the valve 10 controlling the delivery port is closed on the suction stroke and opened on the opposite or downward stroke. By this means the mate rial is drawn through the valve 0 into the division 0 down to the division 6 and again upwardly past the delivery valve 39 to the outlet port 0 During the upward or suction stroke of the piston f, the piston f in the cylinder 6 will be moved downwardly and as each piston acts alternately, a practically constant flow of the material is delivered from the delivery port 0 The passage of the material under the act-ion of the piston f is similar to that previously described, the material entering at b and passing upwardly past the valve 0 into the division c from thence through the aperture n to the lower division 6 and on the downward stroke of the piston 7, up past the valve 19 into the upper division 0 and thence through the delivery port 0 By the arrangement above described in conjunction with the heavy suction valves and the comparatively light delivery valves, the passage of the material under treatment from the suction to the delivery pipes is greatly facilitated, whilst the ball valves offer the minimum obstruction to the passage of the material, no valve stems, hinges or the like being necessary, thus practically eliminating any liability of the valves be coming choked. or otherwise inoperative. Further, the delivery values being of light weight as compared with the suction valves and being operated to opening position by the pressure of the material under treatment, more easily and quickly respond than would otherwise be the case in spite of the fact that the delivery valves are more or less constantly under pressure of the air within the chamber r The passage of the material through the apparatus is further facilitated by forming the walls of the divisions and chambers through which the material passes, with rounded corners, so that there is no tendency to choking of the apparatus, lVhen the apparatus is intended to be portable it may if desired, be supported on wheels or on a wheeled trolley, the lugs a serving to enable the apparatus to be effectively secured.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States of America is 1. Aoparatus for raising or forcing fluids, semi-fluids and other substances, comprising a casing having two chambers superposed one above the other and each divided into two divisions, one of the divisions of the lower ch amber being connected to a source of supply of the material under treatment and communicating with one of the divisions of the upper chamber through a port, whilst one of the divisions of the upper chamber is connected on the one hand to a delivery pipe and on the other hand comnumicates through a port with one of the divisions of the lower chamber, a pump for forcing the material through said chamhers and ball valves of unequal weight for controlling the passage of the material through the said ports, for the purpose set forth.

2. Apparatus for raising or forcing fluids, semi-fluids and other substances, comprising a casing having two chambers superposed one above the other and each divided into two divisions, one of the divisions of the lower chamber being connected to a source of supply of the material under treatment and communicating with one of the divisions in the upper chamber through a port, whilst one 7 of the divisions of the upper chamber is connected on the one hand to a delivery pipe and on the other hand communicates through a port with one of the divisions of the lower chamber, a pump for forcing the material through said chambers, an air reservoir in communication with the chamber from which the material is delivered, and ball valves of unequal weight controlling the ports between the divisions of the upper and the divisions of the lower chamber, for the purposes set forth 3. Apparatus for raising and forcing fluids, and semi fluids and other substances, comprising a casing having two chambers superposed one above the other, each formed with three divisions, one of the divisions of the lower chamber communicating through separate suction ports with two divisions of the upper chamber whilst the other two divisions of the lower chamber communicate through separate delivery ports with the third division of the upper chamber, ball valves of unequal weights controlling the suction and delivery ports respectively, a port in one of the divisions of the lower chamber through which the material to be treated is delivered, a port in one of the divisions of the upper chamber, through which the material is discharged, and a duplex pump adapted to force the material through said chambers, for the purpose set forth.

4. Apparatus for raising and forcing fluids, semi fluids and other substances com- I prising a casing having two chambers super,- posed one above the other, each formed with three divisions, one of the divisions of the lower chamber communicating through separate suction ports with two divisions of the upper chamber whilst the other two divisions of the lower chamber communicate through separate delivery ports with the third divisions of the upper chamber, ball valves controlling the delivery ports, ball valves or great Weight controlling the suction ports, a port in one of the divisions of the lower chamber through Which the material to be treated is admitted, a port in one of the divisions of the upper chamber through which the material is discharged, an air pressure reservoir communicating with said last mentioned division, and a duplex pump adapted to provide a continuous delivery of the material from said discharge port, for the purposes set forth.

FRANCIS ARTHUR JAMES BROWN. 

